When you hear the word “breakfast,” do you think bacon, eggs, hash browns, and a cup of coffee? A cappuccino and a sweet biscuit? Spicy soup and a deep fried…
Category: LIFESTYLE
Oseibo: Japan’s Winter Gift-Giving Tradition
御歳暮 おせいぼOseibo Right around the same time that we in the West start Christmas shopping for friends, family, and co-workers, Japan is also getting into Santa-mode. Only, it’s not for Christmas. You…
The Heart of Kintsugi 金継ぎの心
金継ぎ If you missed our last post, kintsugi is a traditional craft known in the West as “golden joinery.” It involves carefully mending broken pottery with many layers of lacquer…
The Art of Kintsugi (金継ぎ)
A kintsugi master can turn a simple cup into a work of art. What Does Kintsugi Mean? 金 (きん) kin = gold 継ぐ(つぐ) tsugu = connect, inherit, pass on…
Ginnan: The Stinky But Savory and Delicious Ginkgo Nut
This year, the lively and fun autumn festivals in Japan have been canceled, like so many other public events. But nothing can stop the seasons from happening in order, just…
Why Do Japanese Take Off Their Shoes?
“Dosoku kinshi” (土足禁止) Shoes Prohibited Shoes Prohibited! “Dosoku kinshi” (土足禁止) means “shoes prohibited.” Although in the West we walk straight into the house wearing our shoes or sandals, in Japan,…